I posted this a little while ago to the player reviews for AoC. I'm kinda depressed about it actually - I had high hopes for AoC. I LOVE the idea of a Mature MMO! I'm hoping they get the bugs ironed out sooner or later, because this game does have a LOT of potential, if they'd get a few things fixed...
**********************************************
I was VERY excited that an M-rated MMO would be on the market, especially one set in the world of Conan. I tried not to get sucked into the hype too much, but the screenshots and the dedication of the devs to the Conan universe was pretty impressive...and I found myself hopeful.
Then I finally got my hands on it. It started off a little slow, but I got my toon created and I started exploring. The character customization is staggering, and the game is simply beautiful to look at. I liked the idea of having more control over what your player does in combat. However...the honeymoon was soon over. I realize that as a brand new MMO, things will be a little rocky to start - thats normal. But between HUGE graphical glitches and in some places lag that made the game unplayable...I started to wonder if I'd made a mistake by pre-ordering and being among the first in.
For whatever reason, AoC would NEVER properly shut down for me. It didnt matter if I got DCed, or exited the game - every single freaking time it would create an error to send to MS and the AoC team. And, every single time I'd try to start the game again, I'd get an irritating message about how it didnt shut down properly last time, so now it needs to 'revalidate'...which took around 10 min each time ( I think once it was closer to 20 min though).
Aside from graphical/gameplay issues, I found another serious problem: other players. Granted theres always jerks online, but with this being an M rated game, I was hoping all the horny 15 year olds would get left out this time. I was sadly mistaken. It seemed like every time I popped into the daytime side of the game (to sum up, "day" is when you kill monsters and level up and get XP. "night" is when you work on single player goals, like quests for your type of character) chat was full of comments about 'boobs" "chesticles" "bewbies" etc etc etc. Yes, if you have a female toon, taking her top off does leave you...well....topless. I was having one of my graphical glitches when I found that out and all my toons armor disappeared, but listening to a bunch of kids go on about boobs just was a huge turn off from the gameplay itself.
Oh, the final straw on this game for me was this last patch. After installing the patch, suddenly World of Warcraft, Oblivion and The Witcher would freeze up on me and I'd have to reboot my pc. After uninstalling AoC....suddenly no more lockups! Hmmmmmm. While it is possible it was something else, the timeframe really makes me think it was something in the last patch.
So, to sum up:
THE GOOD: Very deep character customization, more complex combat than usual for an MMO, M rated content, beautiful graphics, great music and sound effects, excellent overall ambience, all in the world of Conan!
THE BAD: People who shouldnt be allowed within 100 yeards of M rated content are on it, graphical bugs, serious lag spikes that make it impossible to move let alone fight, possible PC complications between programs/software issues.
I've cancelled my subscription for now, but I plan on keeping my software for a later date if some of those kinks get ironed out. I can live with some glitches, and lag is always a beast - but they need to look into software compatibility issues and get some way to check peoples age!
**************************************
Edit: while I admit that its *possible* theres an issue with my PC, I find it unlikely. I have more than enough memory, a decent graphics card...I dont download things or run anything in the background I don't have to. If my "average" gaming PC can't handle this (and I did try lowering the settings, though according to the box I should have been able to run it almost to its max setttings) without conflict, then theres still something wrong. Again, I have had no issues with other software since uninstalling this game. I really do hope they get those issues ironed out, because this game does have a lot of potential and I would LOVE to be able to play a mature MMO! But until then, I'd say a '5' for a game thats nearly unplayable is actually more generous than most people would have given it...
I haven't been here in awhile, and after taking a look around, it looks about the same as it has been. It's gotten so boring here on GS (particularly OT, which is what this will mostly be about). I still think, and continue to say, that ever since the last redesign, everything (in my opinion) has been going downhill. Thread quality is slowly disintegrating, lots of the cool and interesting people left (save for a small few), and lots of memes get banned. Now, I can understand why they'd ban memes, because they pop up all the time and they are annoying, but at the same time, it's what made this place fun and why I went here. I'd crack up everytime someone posted the O RLY? owl or try to summon Captain Planet, or touch someone's shoulder while doing a barrel roll, and I even enjoyed the occassional account suicides to see who'd get creative with it, but now all we have are repetitive relationship/politic/religious/music threads.
About the only thing I ever come here for anymore are for gaming news, which is about all this site is good for anymore, but I've gotten to the point where I've stopped with reviews as well, what the **** are the multiples of .5 for? What influenced that decision? What was wrong with saying "this game gets an 8.3" or "this game gets a 7.8" or something like that? I enjoy it when they were more specific with the review system, because it let me know exactly what I was going to, or not going to get. Not like that matters much though, I don't play video games much anymore.
Basically though, I've pretty much stopped coming here, and what do I do instead? I'm probably chatting with my real friends, playing guitar for countless hours a day, or if I am on a forum, I've started going to Ultimate-Guitar.com. They have an OT board called The Pit, which I must say, I get quite a few more laughs on, and they are much looser about some of the rules. Plus, being more into music than video games, I learn a lot there on Ultimate-Guitar.com
Simply put, if you were wondering where I was and why I wasn't here like I was over a year ago, you now know. 
As of November 11, 2007, at 1:40 AM, I have decided to leave GameSpot indefinitely. But, I don't know how to get rid of my account, as I have been a member long before this business of subscribing (nor do I plan on doing so). If you all know a secret how to, go ahead and tell me, but before then, my profile and blog will still be open so you can read my past thoughts and statements.
This decision is final. You may see me in the future under a new name, but don't expect to see kingshy around any longer.
My reason is not of one of hate, jealousy, greed, nor is it of happiness. I feel I have left my mark here, no matter how big the impact.
LordRevan1, thank you for having me as one of your buds. I also would like to thank you for your advice, when it was needed.
haga11111, keep ruling the Shy Guy Kingdom. These past months, I had forgot about it, and didn't notice its greatness. It will go down, I believe as a true Shy Guy Union.
and finally, ZeldaFan2329. Thanks for having me as your compadre at the MKC Union. I had a lot of fun. When I play Super Mario Galaxy, I'll do a triple jump just for you (man, I'm really cheesy).
Everyone else (veni-vidi-vici, veracious_heart, and bmoreangel, primarliy), thanks a bunch.
Well, peace out, my homies!
your friend,
kingshy
Well alot has happened to me in the past few weeks that hasn't all been good. The insurance company has DECLINED 
me to go to University of Pennsylvania for testing. They feel that a college and or University is just out of network. I wonder what the hell they do with parents who have their kids in college and go to a college hospital decline them as well ? The union is stepping in and will hopefully have something resolved for me within the next few weeks. I can only hope and pray on that one.
I got Wild Arms 5 and Dragoneer's Aria about a week ago after ordering therm from NIS America. I got all the preorder goodies as well. I see some new games coming out from them and lots of goodies with those as well . I am really going to have to save up for all the good games that they have coming out. Yes, Wild Arms 5 is a pretty good game so far, although I am not that far into yet.
Anyway I am turning a YOUNG 40 this month, and yet I feel that I am only 23 years old. There are a few video game companies that I am going to apply to for some beta testing jobs. I need to keep semi-current on my gaming skills. I am wondering has anyone actually paid some of the sites that I have seen that claim that you get paid to play video games. If so please pm / leave a message here for me so that I know how your experience with them was. That is if you got a job in the video game field.
I finished the Harry Potter book in 1 1/2 days. I really need to slow down on the reading like a fiend. In other news the Stink has mellowed out to a dull roar after picking a fight with a possum and a racoon which showed up on the deck one night. Anyway I hope everyone is well and Happy Gaming to all
Yup, I'm back. It's been forever since I last logged into Gamespot. How is everyone? Probably hating me for leaving without saying a thing. My Union is probably dead. Oh well...I'll close it then.
Anyways, I've been on Gaia most of the time...but now it is starting to get boring. So maybe I'll start over here again. I need to update everything now. Bye Bye for now.
Yes, I'm still alive...barely *laughs* OMG...school is sucking my will to live, seriously! I'm still working on my degree, and NO I'm not going to give up. I'm just kinda drained I guess *blinks and looks dazed* And wtf is up with this 40 degree celsius weather? (It was about 102 F here yesterday) That's just too damn hot!
On the brighter side, for my birthday back in May, my sister bought me a cute little 13 inch tv for my birthday so I could play video games. I love my sister! (she's the one that bought me a GC for my b-day a few years back) and get this...the tv is PINK! haha! YES, it's the same colour of pink as a piece of Double Bubble bubblegum *grins* It's great! The remote is pink too! My sister hates pink, so it's like a built in sister repellant *grins* Not that she would use my tv anyway, she has a big ass huge one in the living room....
I have hooked up my PS2, and I have already burned through 2 games that I had already but hadn't had a chance to play. Final Fantasy X (PS2) and Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits (PS2). I'm letting my sister use the GC, as she's busy working on Metroid Prime 2 Echoes.
Sooo, needless to say I've gone on a video game buying spree. I started out buying Wild Arms 3 from a local grocery store for $20. I saw it while standing in line, and let me tell you...this is a super fun game. I'm enjoying it immensely. I then picked up Arc the Lad: End of Darkness (PS2) for $18 at a diff grocery store. I have heard it's not that great, but meh...whatever. Then Roger's Video was having a big sale of Buy One Get One Free on all their previously played games. So, for $50 I got Baten Kaitos Origins (GC), Tales of Legendia (PS2), Tales of the Abyss (PS2), Wild Arms 4 (PS2), and Shadow Hearts: From the New World (PS2). Of course, it'll take me a while to work through all of them.
My sister is talking about going halfers on a Wii with me, and we're also thinking of buying a regular Xbox. I would also like a Gameboy...preferably in pink pearl *grins* My mom is waiting for me to finish Wild Arms 3 so she can play it...she's heard me say how much fun I've been having, so she wants a crack at it next....
I will report to the MTC on August 1, 2007, remain there for three months learning the Russian language, and will spend a period of 24 months there. How bout them apples? 
[mood| 
stressed] [music| "Hikari--Orchestra Version" Kingdom Hearts OST]
I haven't been around much because I've been working at a grocery store. Ten to seven. Everyday.
...My feet, back, and knees are killing me. It's like nine hours non-stop on my feet, being "pleasant", finding stuff for people, bagging, ringing up, gathering carts, price checking, and I am so bloody tired. And tomorrow and Sunday I have to do the same thing. ALL OVER AGAIN.
So, I'm going to try to post as much as I can when I'm home and not curled up in a ball on my bed sleeping.
